ALAMOSA — In a show of nonpartisanship, the Alamosa County Clerk and Recorder, Alamosa County Assessor and Alamosa County Sheriff announced their campaigns for reelection simultaneously on Thursday. The two Republicans and one Democrat believe party affiliation is unimportant to their positions as they work to serve the county.

Alamosa County Clerk and Recorder Melanie Woodward, a Republican, has worked in the clerk and recorder office since 2000. The Valley native running for her fourth term has three children with her husband Jeff Woodward and five grandchildren.

“I would be honored and would like to continue serving Alamosa County residents as your clerk and recorder,” said Woodward.

During her tenure Woodward has given residents the ability to pay fees with credit cards, renew vehicle registration online and mail in ballots. Woodward was also the treasurer for the statewide county clerks association for two years and is currently serving on the San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority Board.

Alamosa County Assessor Sandra Hostetter, a Republican, is currently serving her fourth term. The Valley native has four children, three grandchildren and began work in the assessor’s office as a data entry clerk before being appointed deputy assessor in 1997.

“I have loved working for the county and would be honored to continue to serve the people of Alamosa County,” Hostetter said. “I feel I am best qualified for the office.”

The assessor is responsible for discovering, listing, classifying and valuing all taxable property in the county and during her career Alamosa County has successfully passed every audit.

Hostetter is the District 4 chairperson for the Colorado Assessors Association and she served as president of the organization in 2010. Additionally, she is a member of the Colorado Association of Tax Appraisers and the International Association of Assessing Officers, a board member of the Alamosa County Chamber of Commerce who served as president in 2016 and the chair of the SLV GIS/GPS Authority board.

Though Alamosa County Sheriff Robert Jackson, a Democrat, has only been the sheriff for three years, the FBI National Academy graduate has 34 years of law enforcement experience, with 18 of those years being at the command level.

“In the last three years we have seen a dramatic increase in the daily jail population, resulting in the housing out of many of the prisoners to other jails,” Jackson said. “We have been able to manage without adding additional deputies.”

As the sheriff, Jackson has added medical personnel to the facility, updated the policy and procedure manual and records management system and incorporated online training for staff. The recently passed one-cent sales tax referendum and a Colorado Department of Local Affairs grant have allowed Jackson to add 76 beds to the detention center and renovate the 32-year-old jail.

“With the assistance of the Alamosa County Commissioners we have increased the salaries of the detention staff, allowing us to maintain a more stable, professional workforce,” said Jackson.

“Although it has been a challenging experience, it has also been extremely rewarding. In the future we will strive to update equipment and training as well as providing as much 24/7 patrol coverage as possible.”

Caption: Alamosa County Assessor Sandra Hostetter, Sheriff Robert Jackson and Clerk and Recorder Melanie Woodward announce their reelection campaigns on Thursday. Courier photo by Jefferson Geiger.